Flying cutoff apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flying cutoff apparatus for cutting longitudinally moving and axially rotating tubing includes a track positioned along and generally parallel to the direction of longitudinal movement of the tubing, a carriage mounted on the track adjacent to the tubing for movement along the track, a cutter mechanism mounted on the carriage adjacent the tubing and stationary relative to axial rotation thereof, and an actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, mounted on the carriage for moving the cutter mechanism relative to the carriage and between non-cutting and cutting positions. The cutter mechanism also is mounted on the carriage for movement with the carriage and relative thereto in transverse relation to the direction of longitudinal movement of the tubing between a non-cutting position wherein the cutter mechanism is disengaged from the tubing and a cutting position wherein the cutter mechanism clamps and thereby moves with the tubing as the same moves longitudinally and operates concurrently to cut the tubing as the same rotates relative to the cutter mechanism. The cutter mechanism includes a cutting roll disposed on one side of the moving tubing and a pair of backing rolls disposed on an opposite side thereof which clamp the tubing therebetween when the cutter mechanism is in its cutting position. The movement of the carriage and cutter mechanism with the moving tubing is due solely to the cutter mechanism clamping the tubing when in its cutting position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of metaltubing for use in nuclear fuel assemblies and, more particularly, isconcerned with a flying cutoff apparatus employing a cutter mechanismcapable of clamping to and riding with longitudinally moving and axiallyrotating tubing for cutting the same to desired lengths withoutrequiring separate components to clamp to or move the cutter mechanismwith the moving and rotating tubing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

One conventional technique for manufacturing zirconium tubing fornuclear fuel assemblies involves pilgering a length of stock tubing toproduce an approximately sixty-foot section having precise dimensions.Then, the section of tubing is removed from the pilgering mill and cutinto twelve-foot lengths, which is the required length for use innuclear fuel assemblies. The interim step of removing the sixty-footsections of tubing before cutting requires additional routing andhandling and greater area which is an inefficient use of labor and floorspace.

Various approaches are proposed in the prior art for cutting pipe ortube to desired lengths upon emerging from a forming machine.Representative of the prior art approaches are the apparatuses disclosedin U.S. Patents to Neuman (U.S. Pat. No. 1,269,635), Gedien et al (U.S.Pat. No. 1,625,850), Fullerton et al (U.S. Pat. No. 3,076,641), Bieri(U.S. Pat. No. 3,224,310), Miyazaki (U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,549), Meyer(U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,999), McMinn (U.S. Pat. No. 3,717,058), Harris(U.S. Pat. No. 3,886,832) and Borzym (U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,670). Whilethese apparatuses undoubtedly operate satisfactorily under the range ofconditions for which they were designed, all appear to incorporate atleast one of the following disadvantages. Some require independent meansfor moving the severing mechanism with the moving pipe or tube. Othershave means separate from the severing mechanism for clamping the latterto the moving pipe or tube. Still others must be rotated to sever thepipe or tube, while others use severing techniques not appropriate foruse in cutting fuel assembly tubing.

Consequently, a need still exists for a fresh approach to cuttingdesired tubing lengths from a moving longer section of tubing as itemerges from a forming machine, which approach will eliminate thedrawbacks of these prior approaches without creating new limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flying cutoff apparatus designed tosatisfy the aforementioned needs. The apparatus of the present inventionhas a hydraulically activated tube cutter mechanism that is indexed on alongitudinally moving and axially rotating tubing such thatpredetermined lengths thereof, for instance twelve-foot lengths, can becut as soon as the tubing exits a tube forming machine, such as apilgering mill. The cutter mechanism rides the tubing as it is expelledfrom the mill and utilizes the rotation imparted by the mill to thetubing to cut it. This approach results in a more efficient use of floorspace than before and automates a previously manual operation. Inaddition, the cutter mechanism requires no additional components in theapparatus to drive it with the moving tubing nor to clamp it to thetubing. The cutter mechanism uses the movement of the tubing by ridingon it and only the cutting and backing rolls of the cutter mechanismclamp the mechanism to the tubing. Also, the apparatus includes anauxiliary mechanism for rotating the last portion of the tubing sectiononce it has left the pilgering mill.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a flying cutoffapparatus for cutting longitudinally moving and axially rotating tubing,which comprises: (a) a track positioned along the direction oflongitudinal movement of the tubing; (b) a carriage mounted on the trackadjacent to the tubing for movement along the track in the direction oflongitudinal movement of the tubing; (c) a cutter mechanism mounted onthe carriage adjacent the tubing and stationary relative to axialrotation thereof, the cutter mechanism also being mounted on thecarriage for movement with the carriage and relative thereto intransverse relation to the direction of longitudinal movement of thetubing between a non-cutting position wherein the cutter mechanism isdisengaged from the tubing and a cutting position wherein the cuttermechanism clamps and thereby moves with the tubing as the same moveslongitudinally and operates concurrently to cut the tubing as the samerotates relative to the cutter mechanism; and (d) means mounted on thecarriage for moving the cutter mechanism relative to the carriage andbetween its non-cutting and cutting positions. The movement of thecarriage and cutter mechanism with the moving tubing is due solely tothe cutter mechanism clamping the tubing when in its cutting position.

More particularly, the track extends generally parallel to the directionof longitudinal movement of the tubing such that the carriage is movablegenerally parallel to the direction of tubing movement. Also, the cuttermechanism includes a cutting device in the form of a cutting rollrotatably mounted on the carriage and disposed on one side of the movingtubing, and a backing device in the form of a pair of backing rollsrotatably mounted on the carriage and disposed on an opposite side ofthe moving tubing. At least one of the cutting roll and backing rollsare movable relative to the other when the cutter mechanism is movedbetween its non-cutting and cutting positions. The cutter mechanism alsoincludes an adjustable device for presetting the position of the cuttingroll relative to the backing rolls, and the means for moving the cuttermechanism relative to the carriage is a hydraulic cylinder coupled tothe backing rolls.

The present invention is also set forth in a tube manufacturing station,wherein the combination comprises: (a) means for progressively forming asection of tubing of a given length in which the tubing section islongitudinally moving and axially rotating as it emerges from theforming means; (b) means for cutting tubes of lengths shorter than thegiven length from the tubing section concurrently as the same emergesfrom the forming means; and (c) means for gripping and rotating thetubing section as a final portion thereof finally exits the formingmeans for permitting the cutting means to cut a last one of the tubesfrom the remaining portion of the tubing section.

More particularly, the cutting means includes a cutter mechanism capableof clamping to and thereby moving with the tubing as the same moveslongitudinally and operating concurrently to cut the tubing as the samerotates axially. The cutter mechanism includes a cutting device disposedon one side of the moving tubing and a backing device disposed on anopposite side thereof. The cutting and backing devices are capable ofclamping the moving tube therebetween such that movement of the cuttermechanism with the moving tubing as the cutter mechanism cuts the tubingis due solely to the cutter mechanism clamping the tubing. The grippingand rotating means includes a rotary jaw for receiving the tubingsection and being actuatable between tubing section gripping andnon-gripping positions. It also includes means for actuating the jawbetween its gripping and non-gripping positions and drive means coupledto the jaw for rotating the same in order to rotate the tubing sectionwhen the jaw is actuated to its gripping position. The rotary jawincludes a chuck mechanism having collets for gripping the tubingsection when the jaw is in its gripping position, and the actuatingmeans includes compressed air driven members for causing the collets togrip the tubing section.

These and other advantages and attainments of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with thedrawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodimentof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the course of the following detailed description, reference will bemade to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the flying cutoff apparatus of the presentinvention, illustrating the apparatus positioned downstream of the exitend of a pilgering mill.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and elevational view of the cutter mechanism ofthe cutoff apparatus as seen along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cutter mechanism of the cutoffapparatus as seen along line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the cuttermechanism of the cutoff apparatus as taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end elevational view of the auxiliary tubingrotating mechanism of the cutoff apparatus as seen along line 5--5 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the auxiliarymechanism of the cutoff apparatus as taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, like reference characters designate likeor corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.Also in the following description, it is to be understood that suchterms as "forward", "rearward", "left", "right", "upwardly","downwardly", and the like are words of convenience and are not to beconstrued as limiting terms.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a station 10 of a nuclear fuel tube manufacturing operation inwhich the flying cutoff apparatus 12 of the present invention isemployed. The station 10 extends from an exit end of a pilgering mill 14located upstream of the cutoff apparatus 12 to an entrance end of a tubereceiving station 16 located downstream of the apparatus. Asconventionally known in the art, the pilgering mill 14 progressivelyforms a section of tubing 18 (FIG. 4), for example, of a length somewhatgreater than sixty feet, which moves longitudinally and rotates axiallyas it emerges from the discharge end 20 of the mill 14. The cutoffapparatus 12 has a cutter mechanism 22, to be described in detail below,which cuts a number of tubes of shorter lengths, for instance five tubesof twelve feet lengths in the case of fuel rods used in nuclear fuelassemblies, from the tubing section 18 concurrently as the same emergesfrom the pilgering mill 14.

As seen in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIGS. 2 to 4, for cutting thelongitudinally moving and axially rotating tubing section 18, the cutoffapparatus 12 generally includes a track 24, a carriage 26 and means inthe form of an actuator 28, such as a hydraulic cylinder, in addition tothe cutter mechanism 22. The track 24 is in the form of a pair oflaterally spaced apart guide rails 30 positioned along, below andgenerally parallel to the direction of longitudinal movement of thetubing section 18 from the exit end of the pilgering mill 14. Thecarriage 26 has a pair of lateral bearings 32 by which it is mounted onthe guide rails 30 of the track 24 adjacent to the tubing section 18 formovement along the track in the direction of longitudinal movement ofthe tubing section.

The cutter mechanism 22 is mounted on the carriage 26 generally adjacentto and across the path of the moving tubing section 18 but disposedgenerally stationary relative to rotational motion of the tubingsection. The cutter mechanism 22 is also mounted on the carriage 26 formovement with it as well as relative to it and in transverse relation tothe direction of longitudinal movement of the tubing section 18 betweennon-cutting and cutting positions.

Preferably, the cutter mechanism 22 includes a cutting device in theform of a cutting roll 34 disposed above the moving tubing and a backingdevice in the form of a pair of backing rolls 36 disposed below thetubing. The carriage 26 also includes a vertical guide channel 38located between the bearings 32 with upper and lower guides 40, 42slidably mounted in the channel. The cutting roll 34 is mounted to theupper guide 40 for rotation about a horizontal axis 44, whereas thebacking rolls 36 are mounted to the lower guide 42 in side-by-siderelation to one another below the cutting roll 34 and for rotation abouthorizontal axes 46 extending parallel to each other and to the axis 44of the cutting roll 34. All of the horizontal rotational axes 44, 46 ofthe respective rolls 34, 36 extend generally parallel to the directionof longitudinal movement (see arrow in FIG. 4) of the tubing section 18.The tubing section 18 travels through openings 47 defined in front andrear guides 49 of the carriage 26.

When cutter mechanism 22 is moved within the guide channel 38 relativeto the carriage 26 and transversely to the tubing section 18 between itsnon-cutting and cutting positions, the lower guide 42 and backing rolls36 are moved away from and toward the upper guide 40 and cutting roll 34as well as the tubing section 18. The actuator in the form of thehydraulic cylinder 28 is mounted on the carriage 26 and coupled to thelower guide 42 for moving the lower backing rolls 36 away from andtoward the upper cutting roll 34 and the tubing section 18. In thenon-cutting position of the cutter mechanism 22, the backing rolls 36are lowered by retraction of the hydraulic cylinder 28 and disengagedfrom the tubing section 18 such that neither the cutting roll 34 nor thebacking rolls 36 contact the moving tubing section. In the cuttingposition of the cutter mechanism 22, the backing rolls 36 are raised byextension of the hydraulic cylinder 28 and brought into engagement withthe moving tubing section 18 sufficiently to lift it slightly andforcibly maintain it in contact with the cutting roll 34.

Consequently, in the cutting position, the cutting and backing rolls 34,36 of the cutter mechanism 22 coact to clamp onto and thereby move orride with the tubing 18 as the latter moves longitudinally and thestationary cutting roll 34 operates concurrently to cut the tubing asthe latter rotates relative to cutter mechanism. The cutting and backingrolls 34, 36 rotate with the tubing section as they clamp it betweenthem. From the above description, it is readily understood that themovement of the carriage 26 and the cutter mechanism 22 with the movingtubing section 18 is due solely to the rolls 34, 36 of the cuttermechanism 22 clamping the tubing section when in their cutting position.No other components are provided in the cutoff apparatus 12 to serve toperform this function.

In addition, the cutter mechanism 22 includes an adjustable device 48for presetting the vertical position of the cutting roll 34 relative tothe backing rolls 36. The adjustable device 48 includes a shaft 50threaded through a transverse-extending plate 52 of the carriage 26 andhaving a knob 54 attached on its upper end for manually rotating theshaft to thread it into or unthread it from the plate. The lower end ofthe shaft 50 is connected to the upper guide 40 which rotatably mountsthe cutting roll 34. Thus, as the vertical position of the shaft 50 isthreadably adjusted with respect to the plate 52, the vertical positionsof the upper guide 40 and cutting roll 34 are changed with respect tothe lower guide 42 and backing rolls 36.

Also, a pair of coiled springs 56 are located on opposite sides of theguide channel 38 of the carriage 26. The springs 56 are disposed incompressed condition between lower ledges 58 on the carriage 26 and theouter opposite ends of the carriage plate 52. The function of thesprings 56 is to assist the cylinder 28 in lowering or retracting thebacking rolls 36 away from the cutting roll 34 to the non-cuttingposition of the cutter mechanism 22.

Finally, as seen in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, an auxiliarymechanism, generally designated 60, is provided for gripping androtating the tubing section as a last remaining portion thereof finallyexits the pilgering mill 14. The auxiliary mechanism 60 permits thecutter mechanism 22 to cut the last one of the tubes from the remainingportion of the tubing section fabricated by the mill 14. The auxiliarygripping and rotating mechanism 60 includes a rotary jaw 62 whichreceives the tubing section and is actuatable between gripping andnon-gripping positions. Means in the form of compressed air drivenmembers 64 are provided for actuating the jaw 62 between its grippingand non-gripping positions. More specifically, the rotary jaw 62includes a chuck mechanism 66 having collets 68 for gripping the tubingsection when the jaw is in its gripping position. The compressed airdriven members 64 cause the collets 68 to grip the tubing section. Drivemeans, generally designated 70, is coupled to the jaw 62 for rotatingthe same in order to rotate the tubing section when the jaw is actuatedto its gripping position. The drive means 70 includes a electric motor72 drivingly interconnected to a shaft portion 74 of the jaw 62 which isrotatably mounted by bearings 76 mounted to the track 24. A bore 78 isdefined through the shaft portion 74 for receiving the tubing sectiontherethrough. A belt and pulley arrangement 80 drivingly interconnectsthe motor 72 and the end of the jaw shaft portion 74.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendent advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred or exemplary embodimentthereof.

I claim:
 1. A flying cutoff apparatus for cutting longitudinally movingand axially rotating tubing, comprising:(a) a track positioned along thedirection of longitudinal movement of the tubing; (b) a carriage mountedon said track adjacent to the tubing for movement along said track inthe direction of longitudinal movement of the tubing; (c) a cuttingdevice and a backing device mounted on said carriage adjacent the tubingand stationary relative to axial rotation thereof, said cutting deviceand said backing device also being mounted on said carriage for movementwith said carriage, said cutting device being disposed on one side ofthe moving tube and said backing device being disposed on an oppositeside of said moving tubing, at least one of said cutting and backingdevices also being mounted on said carriage for movement relativethereto and relative to the other in transverse relation to thedirection of longitudinal movement of the tubing between a non-cuttingposition wherein said cutting and backing devices are disengaged fromthe tubing and a cutting position wherein said cutting and backingdevices clamp and thereby move with the tubing as the same moveslongitudinally and operate concurrently to cut the tubing as the samerotates relative to said cutting and backing devices, the movement ofsaid carriage and said cutting and backing devices with the movingtubing being due solely to said cutting and backing devices clamping thetubing therebetween when in said cutting position; and (d) means mountedon said carriage for moving said one of said cutting and backing devicesrelative to said carriage and to the other between said non-cutting andcutting positions.
 2. The cutoff apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein said track extends generally parallel to the direction oflongitudinal movement of the tubing such that said carriage is movablegenerally parallel to the direction of tubing movement.
 3. The cutoffapparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said cutting device is acutting roll rotatably mounted on said carriage.
 4. The cutoff apparatusas recited in claim 1, wherein said backing device is a pair of backingrolls rotatably mounted on said carriage.
 5. The cutoff apparatus asrecited in claim 1, wherein said backing device is movable relative tosaid cutting device.
 6. The cutoff apparatus as recited in claim 5,further comprising:an adjustable device coupled to said cutting deviceand operable for presetting the position of said cutting device relativeto said backing device.
 7. The cutoff apparatus as recited in claim 5,wherein said means for moving said backing device relative to saidcarriage and said cutting device is a hydraulic cylinder coupled to saidbacking device.
 8. A flying cutoff apparatus for cutting longitudinallymoving and axially rotating tubing, comprising:(a) a track positionedalong and generally parallel to the direction of longitudinal movementof the tubing; (b) a carriage mounted on said track adjacent to thetubing for movement along said track and generally parallel to thedirection of longitudinal movement of the tubing; (c) a cutting deviceand a backing device mounted on said carriage adjacent the tubing andstationary relative to axial rotation thereof, said cutting device andbacking device also being mounted on said carriage for movement withsaid carriage, said cutting device being disposed on one side of themoving tubing and said backing device being disposed on an opposite sideof the moving tubing, at least one of said cutting and backing devicesalso being mounted on said carriage for movement relative thereto andrelative to the other in transverse relation to the direction oflongitudinal movement of the tubing between a non-cutting positionwherein said cutting and backing devices are disengaged from the tubingand a cutting position wherein said cutting and backing devices clampand thereby move with the tubing as the same moves longitudinally andoperate concurrently to cut the tubing as the same rotates relative tosaid cutting and backing devices, the movement of said carriage andcutting and backing devices with the moving tubing being due solely tosaid cutting and backing devices clamping the tubing therebetween whenin said cutting position; and (d) means mounted on said carriage formoving said one of said cutting and backing devices relative to saidcarriage and to the other between said non-cutting and cuttingpositions.
 9. The cutoff apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein:saidcutting device is a cutting roll rotatably mounted on said carriage; andsaid backing device is a pair of backing rolls rotatably mounted on saidcarriage.
 10. The cutoff apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein saidbacking rolls are movable relative to said cutting roll.
 11. The cutoffapparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising:an adjustabledevice coupled to said cutting roll and operable for presetting theposition of said cutting roll relative to said backing rolls.
 12. Thecutoff apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for movingsaid backing rolls relative to said carriage and said cutting roll is ahydraulic cylinder coupled to said backing rolls.
 13. In a tubemanufacturing station, the combination comprising:(a) means forprogressively forming a section of tubing of a given length in whichsaid tubing section is longitudinally moving and axially rotating as itemerges from said forming means; (b) means located downstream of saidforming means for cutting tubes of shorter lengths than said givenlength from said tubing section concurrently as the same emerges fromsaid forming means; and (c) means located downstream of said formingmeans and upstream of said cutting means for gripping and rotating saidtubing section as a final portion thereof finally exits said formingmeans for permitting said cutting means to cut a last one of said tubesfrom said final portion of said tubing section.
 14. The tubemanufacturing station as recited in claim 13, wherein said cutting meansincludes a cutting device disposed on one side of said moving tubingsection and a backing device disposed on an opposite side thereof, saidcutting and backing devices being capable of clamping the moving tubingsection therebetween and thereby moving with said tubing section as thesame moves longitudinally and operate concurrently to cut the tubingsection as the same rotates axially, the movement of said cutting andbacking devices with the moving tubing section as said cutting andbacking devices cut said tubing section being due solely to said cuttingand backing devices clamping the tubing section therebetween.
 15. In atube manufacturing station, the combination comprising:(a) means forprogressively forming a section of tubing of a given length in whichsaid tubing section is longitudinally moving and axially rotating as itemerges from said forming means; (b) means for cutting tubes of shorterlengths then said given length from said tubing section concurrently asthe same emerges from said forming means; and (c) means for gripping androtating said tubing section as a final portion thereof finally exitssaid forming means for permitting said cutting means to cut a last oneof said tubes from said final portion of said tubing section; (d) saidgripping and rotating means including(i) a rotary jaw for receiving saidtubing section and being actuatable between tubing section gripping andnon-gripping positions, (ii) means for actuating said jaw between itsgripping and non-gripping positions, and (iii) drive means coupled tosaid jaw for rotating the same in order to rotate said tubing sectionwhen said jaw is actuated to its gripping position.
 16. The tubemanufacturing station as recited in claim 15, wherein:said rotary jawincludes a chuck mechanism having collets for gripping said tubingsection when said jaw is in its gripping position; and said actuatingmeans includes compressed air driven members for causing said collets togrip said tubing section.